Golf-ball.



Patented Apr. 8, I902. E. KEMPSHALL. I

No. 697,42l.

G 0 L F B A L L.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 1901.)

(No Modal.)

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1720162270 EZeazerlem UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, OF BOSTON, MASSAOHUSETTS ASSIGNOR TO THE U KEMPSHAIJLMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GOLF-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,421 dated April 8,1902.

Application filed November 8. 1901. Serial No. 81,565. (No model.)

sachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGolf-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to balls such as used in golf and certain othergames; and its objects are to improve the quality, efficiency, andstanchness of the balls and also to improve the method of producingthem.

In my pending application, filed September 27, 1901, Serial No. 76,814,is illustrated a ball constructed With a relatively hard or stifi, butspringy shell, which is filled with an elastic substance that is heldunder compression by the shell, whereby the latter is supported againstdistortion produced by a blow, the constant elastic outward pressure ofthe core tending to maintain the shell in spherical shape andcooperating with the natural springiness of the shell to enhance theefliciency of the ball. In another pending application, filed September30, 1901, Serial No. 76,951, the relatively soft material of the core isfirst provided with a jacket by winding twine layer over layer aroundthe same, the ball thus preliminarily formed being oversize, theshell-segments being then placed over such ball and the whole subjectedto com-' pression under the action of the heat, so as to enable theshell to contract more readily to its finished size.

The principal object of the present invention is to improve thequalities of the inner ball, so as to produce a superior finished ball.

I provide the inner core with a firmly-fitting tension-envelop whichcompresses the core, prevents the material of which-the nucleus iscomposed from escaping between the edges of the projectingshell-segments as they are compressed thereover, and also possessesqualities which increase the elasticity and effectiveness of thefinished ball.

- In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,Figure 1 is a view, partly broken away, of a ball made in accordancewith my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a view of a jacketed inner ball.Fig. 3 illustrates a method of compressing the shell- .terial, such asrubber of suitable consistency or gutta-percha; but preferably I formthe nucleus in this instance by winding rubber threads into the form ofa ball, as at C, Fig. 4. I inclose this nucleus ball in an envelopconsisting of one or more layers of elastic belting D, which may bewoven of a suitable width, say three-quarters of an inch, or may beproduced by cutting elastic webbing or fabric into strips. This elasticbelting I put under tension while windingit around the nucleus, so thatit firmly fits and compresses the core, whatever may be the substance orform of the latter, although the elastic beltingis especially effectivewhen the core is of the kind illustrated at Fig. 4. A characteristic ofelastic belting when used for this purpose is that it draws right downinto a spherical form or clings closely for its entire width to thecore, thus not only holding the same under compression, but also makinga practically smooth and uniform jacket or blanket around the latter,whereby an inner ball of improved quality is produced in a simple mannerand at low cost. In its original shape the inner ball is substantiallyround, although it may depart from the spherical form within the scopeof the invention; but I prefer that its bulk shall be alittle too largefor the final capacity of the shell.

The shell I preferably form in two hemispherical segments A and A Figs.1 and 2, between which the nucleus ball is placed. The parts thusassembled are placed between formingdiesas, for instance, E and Fwhereupon the latter are pressed together by means of suitablemechanism, thus forcing the shells together so as to bring their edgesinto intimate contact. To said edges cement is previously applied, sothat when they are forced together they adhere, although the inventionis not limited to this particular method of effecting adhesion. Whenreaction of the dies.

quired, the dies may be heated by steam or otherwise for bringing thematerial of the shell-segments into suitable condition and consistencyboth for uniting them and also for facilitating the compressing andshaping \Vhen celluloid is employed, the heating of the dies effects asoftening of the shell, so that it may be more readily pressed from itsoriginal to its finished or final size, and the dies may be then allowedto cool before the balls are taken out, so as to give the shells anopportunity to reharden, whereby they are enabled to retain theirshapewhen removed. The abutting edges of the original segments at A may bemade somewhat full. thereby to furnish material for properly forming thejoint between them as they are subjected to the final compression. Theelastic belting being wound under tension upon the nucleus serves toeffectually confine the same at the shell-com pressing operation, sothat none of the material may squeeze out between the approaching edgesof the segments. The fibrous portion of the jacket also serves toprevent the heat of the dies from escaping into the nucleus, wherebyinjury of the latter is prevented and whereby also the shells may beunited without the employment of an undue amount of heat.

It will be understood that the material of the shell is com pressedbetween the dies and the resisting mass of the ball contained therein,and since said inner ball is first prepared somewhat oversize theresistance thereof while under such compression furnishes a substantialsupport for sustaining the relatively thin shell against the pressure ofthe forming-dies. 13y properly proportioning the size of the inner ballthe shells when being finished maybe sustained against any necessarydegree of pressure of the dies. The jacket of elastic belting may befirst treated with an application of celluloid solution or cement, whichmay permeate the fibers of the belting, so that it becomes at thefinishing operation firmly incorporated with the shell.

For a golf-ball the shell is preferably made of celluloid, which isstiff and springy, and hence well adapted for use in this game. Theelasticity of the inner ball cooperates with the springiness of theshell, so as to instantly restore the latter to its normal shape afterdistortion by a blow, and thus enhances the resiliency of the ball as awhole. The elasticity of the filling is greatly enhanced by having itconstantly under compression, since the outward pressure thereof in alldirections tends constantly to assume and maintain a spherical shape,or, in other words, an outward pressure, such as caused by compression,is of material assistance in enabling the ball to spring instantly backto its original shape, and hence rebound when thrown against an object,as well as to fly with greater speed and to cover a greater distancewhen struck by an implement.

It will be understood that the jacket covertic belting or fabric.

ing the soft nucleus is of importance in man ufactu re in cases wherethe shell is compressed over the nucleus, whether or not the parts areheated at the pressing operation, since, even if the parts are cold, thetendency of the nucleus when subject to pressure is to squeeze outbetween the approaching edges of the shell, which tendency is entirelyovercome by the confining action of the jacket, and in cases where heatis employed and where the nucleus is of material which is liable to fiowthe jacket becomes of still greater im portance.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the finished ball comprises arelatively soft elastic nucleus, a relatively hard springy shell, and anintermediate layer of tensioned elas- This layer, it Willbe seen, formsa fibrous reinforcement for the shell itself and is of great value,since when the ball is given a knock the force thereof is diffused, andhence the ball is generally altered from its true spherical shape,whereby the elasticity of the inner ball acts over a large area withgreatly-increased effectiveness. It will be understood that when theball is given a sharp knock with a corner or small end of an implementthe normal tendency of the shell, especially when the latter is made ofcelluloid and has thin walls, is to dent in sharply, thus affecting onlythe part of the nucleus which is right behind the area of impact andcompacting only a small portion of the nucleus without tending generallyto alter the entire conformation thereof, so that only this smallportion of the nucleus would be materially effective in returning theshell to its original shape, whereas by placing a jacket of elasticfabric under tension over the nucleus sharp indentation of the shell isprevented, since if the jacket is pushed inwardly anywhere a large areathereof is, owing to its longitudinal tension, necessarily affected anddragged inwardly to a slight extent, so that instead of a deepindentation being produced in the nucleus over a small area the latteris slightly flattened over a large area, and thereby the entire shape ofthe nucleus, as well as the shell, is a little distorted, and inconsequence the whole energy of the imprisoned mass, added to thenatural resiliency of the elastic belting, is called upon and the ballis restored instantly to its normal position. Moreover, said elasticbelting to a material extent relieves the shell from the stress due tothe outward or expanding pressure of the compressed elastic nucleus, sothat the shell is less liable to deteriorate or crack, and its life isgreatly prolonged. In this connection it will be perceived that thecompression of the inner ball at the finishing operation does notmaterially reduce the longitudinal tension of the elastic belting at anypart, so that the same is effective to restrain the nucleus after theball is finished. Thus it will be seen that the elastic fabric forms anexcellent backing or base for the shell, particularly when the latter isof celluloid,

and especially since the presence of such backing prevents undueindentation of the shell, as just explained.

In usingthe term celluloid I refer to celluloid compounds generally anddo not limit myself toany particular variety or grade or mixture. 7

My present improvements in construction and method are applicable notonly to golfballs, but also to balls for use in playing billiards andanalogous games, and it will be understood that the thickness of theshell and also the firmness and relative size of the center pieces maybe varied in accordance with the requirements of any particular game oruse for which the balls may be employed.

I usually make the exterior surface of golfballs pebbled or corrugatedto any design or configuration which may be preferred by the player. Inthis instance the'ball is represented as finished with relatively slightelevations of a spherical conformation; but in billiard balls of coursethe outer surface should usually be a smooth and true spherical surface.g

I believe that I am the first to incase a core of rubber cord in acelluloid shell, thereby producinga highly effective playing-ball. V Inmanufacturing the tendency of therubber to squeeze out between the edgesof the shell, and thereby prevent the edges of the same from uniting orwelding,is overcome by means of my invention. The elastic beltingsuccessfully confines the mass of rubber during the shell-compressingoperation, and, moreover, the fiber of the belting offers a material towhich cellulose or other suitable cement readily adheres,.so that theshell and the fiber are firmly united, thus forming an efiective backingor reinforcement for the shell. The celluloid is practically .proofagainst deterioration in the heat of summer.

Variations maybe resorted to within the scope of my present invention.

The herein-described process is made the subject-matter of my'pendingdivisional ap-' plication, filed December '12, 1901, Serial No. 85,568.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with aspringy core of windings of elastic belting tensioned thereon, and ashell formed from plastic material and holding said core undercompression.

2. The combination with a core'made of windings of rubber thread ofelastic belting tensioned thereon, and a shell formed of plasticmaterial and compressed upon said belting and core. a

The combination with a rubber-thread ball of a celluloid shell holdingthe same under compression.

4. The combination with a rubber-thread ball of a shell consisting ofhemispherical seg- Ving said core under compression.

ments of celluloid welded together at their edges and holding, said ballunder compression.

5. A- playing-ball comprising a, celluloid shell, arubber core, andanintervening layer of fibrous and elastic material, said; core being heldundercompression by, said shell. j

6.. A playing-ballcomprising a celluloid' shell, a rubber core,.and anintervening layer offibrous and elastic material;,said core bein gheldnnder compression by said shell, and said shell consisting ofhemispherical segments welded together at their edges.

7. A playing-ball comprising a celluloid shell,-a rubber core,and anintervening'layer of fibrous and elastic material; said core bein g heldunder compression by said shell, and said fibrous material beingcemented to the latter.

8.. A playingball comprising a celluloid shell, a rubbercore, and anintervening-layer of fibrous and elastic material; said core bein g heldunder compression by said shell, said shell consisting of hemisphericalsegments welded together at their edges,-and said fibrous material beingcemented-to said shell.

9. :A playing-ballcomprising a shellmade from plastic material, a core,formed from springy material, and an intervening layer oftensionedelastic fabric; said core being held under compression by saidshelL;

10. The combination of a rubber core,wind- 95 ings of elastic beltingtensioned thereon,;and a shell of celluloid; the latter holdingsaid coreunder compression. V

11. In a playing-ball, a-nucleus consisting of an elastic substance overwhich :elastic 10o belting is tensioned.

12. In aplaying-ball, a nucleus consisting of aball made up of windingsof tensioned rubber thread over which elastic "beltingis tensioned.

13. The combination of aspringy core, elastic belting tensioned thereon,and ahard shell formed from'plastic material; said belting beingcemented to said shell and the latter hold- I I O 14. A playing-ballcomprising a springy filling, a celluloid shell and-an interveningelastic layer under tension; said shell holding said layer and saidfilling under compression.

15. A playing-ballcomprisinga springy filling, a celluloid shell, and anintervening elasticv layer under tension; said shell holding said layerand said filling under compression, and being formed from hemisphericalsegments which are welded together at their edges.

ELEAZER KE PsiIALL.

Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, B. O. STIOKNEY.

